MELBOURNE - DNA testing is underway to determine the sex and species of a seven metre whale found floating near Disaster Bay, south of Eden, on Friday. Onshore winds have since pushed the carcass onto Wonboyn Beach.
At first, it was speculated that the whale could have been the mother of euthanased calf Collette, but local National Parks and Wildlife authorities believed the whale to be male.
The dead whale was discovered by Eden abalone diver Harley Luobikis and his father Dennis when travelling down the coast in their boat Pussy Cat to abalone grounds at about 10am Friday morning. “We saw some damage on the side of it, dad thought it could have been a propellor,” 22-year-old Harley said.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Juneau Whale Sculpture May Be Reconsidered
JUNEAU - A decision by the Juneau Assembly on Monday night on the funding of a bronze whale sculpture is likely to be reconsidered since Assembly member Randy Wanamaker gave notice of reconsideration after the vote.
The Assembly voted 5-3 Monday to provide $500,000 in city sales tax funds to a group of private citizens called the Whale Committee to start the project, which is expected to cost $2.5 million.
Wanamaker said Tuesday he will bring the ordinance up again at the Assembly's regular meeting on Sept. 8. If a majority votes to reconsider, board members would discuss the issue and take another vote. If they do not, Monday's decision stands.
The Assembly voted 5-3 Monday to provide $500,000 in city sales tax funds to a group of private citizens called the Whale Committee to start the project, which is expected to cost $2.5 million.
Wanamaker said Tuesday he will bring the ordinance up again at the Assembly's regular meeting on Sept. 8. If a majority votes to reconsider, board members would discuss the issue and take another vote. If they do not, Monday's decision stands.
Whale Tangled in Crab Pot
SAN FRANCISCO - Animal officials have been unable to locate a whale that was spotted Tuesday morning tangled in a crab pot in the water near Pacifica, Marine Mammal Center spokeswoman Mieke Eerkens said today.
The whale, estimated to be less than 50 feet long, was seen swimming in the ocean about 250 yards off the coast of Pacifica, Mieke said. The crab pot had somehow become wrapped around the whale's body but did not restrict it from swimming, Mieke said.
Mieke said the U.S. Coast Guard had issued a small-craft advisory Tuesday, which prevented a Marine Mammal Center rescue crew from taking a boat to the area to try to untangle the creature. The rescuers instead scanned the waters from a Coast Guard helicopter but did not find the whale, Mieke said.
The whale, estimated to be less than 50 feet long, was seen swimming in the ocean about 250 yards off the coast of Pacifica, Mieke said. The crab pot had somehow become wrapped around the whale's body but did not restrict it from swimming, Mieke said.
Mieke said the U.S. Coast Guard had issued a small-craft advisory Tuesday, which prevented a Marine Mammal Center rescue crew from taking a boat to the area to try to untangle the creature. The rescuers instead scanned the waters from a Coast Guard helicopter but did not find the whale, Mieke said.
Record Whale Numbers Gather
BIGHT, AU - A record number of whales and their calves have amassed at Head of Bight this year, giving scientists and tourists hope the massive species can one day be taken off the endangered species list.
Research by national whale expert Dr Stephen Burnell has found 66 female Southern Right Whales and their 66 calves in the Great Australian Bight. They were joined by 22 unaccompanied whales, which could not be identified as male or female.
Last year, 38 whales and 29 calves were spotted in the Great Australian Bight, which is hailed as the best place in Australia to see whales.
Research by national whale expert Dr Stephen Burnell has found 66 female Southern Right Whales and their 66 calves in the Great Australian Bight. They were joined by 22 unaccompanied whales, which could not be identified as male or female.
Last year, 38 whales and 29 calves were spotted in the Great Australian Bight, which is hailed as the best place in Australia to see whales.
Whale's Body Washed Up On Beach
EAST SUSSEX, ENG
Marine life experts have been called out after a dead whale was found washed up on the beach in East Sussex.
The 19.7ft (6m) animal is "very decomposed" and it is impossible to say how long it has been dead, said British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). Experts said it was impossible to tell how long the animal had been dead.
Spokesman Trevor Weeks said it was believed it was a deep-diving baleen whale but BDMLR could not identify the species because of its poor condition. "It is not uncommon for cetaceans like common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins to frequent the English Channel this far up on the Sussex coastline," said Mr Weeks.
Marine life experts have been called out after a dead whale was found washed up on the beach in East Sussex.
The 19.7ft (6m) animal is "very decomposed" and it is impossible to say how long it has been dead, said British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). Experts said it was impossible to tell how long the animal had been dead.
Spokesman Trevor Weeks said it was believed it was a deep-diving baleen whale but BDMLR could not identify the species because of its poor condition. "It is not uncommon for cetaceans like common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins to frequent the English Channel this far up on the Sussex coastline," said Mr Weeks.
Stranded Whale Freed
QUEENSLAND, AU - A whale stranded on Queensland's Fraser Island will be monitored after being helped back into deeper water.
Kayakers found the four- to five-metre-long minke whale stranded near Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island's north-west beach this morning. They notified researchers from the Oceania Project whale research program who are currently working in the Great Sandy Marine Park and the stranded whale was helped back into the water.
The whale is reported to be all right. Queensland's Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said Environmental Protection Agency rangers were monitoring Platypus Bay in the Great Sandy Marine Park in case the animal needed further assistance.
"Advice that the whale was able to swim away is good news and we thank those who reported the stranding and were on hand to assist its return to the water," Mr McNamara said.
Kayakers found the four- to five-metre-long minke whale stranded near Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island's north-west beach this morning. They notified researchers from the Oceania Project whale research program who are currently working in the Great Sandy Marine Park and the stranded whale was helped back into the water.
The whale is reported to be all right. Queensland's Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said Environmental Protection Agency rangers were monitoring Platypus Bay in the Great Sandy Marine Park in case the animal needed further assistance.
"Advice that the whale was able to swim away is good news and we thank those who reported the stranding and were on hand to assist its return to the water," Mr McNamara said.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Lost Humpback Whale Finds Way North
BERLIN (AP) A humpback whale that roamed the Baltic Sea has been spotted in Swedish waters south of Goteberg and is believed headed further north.
Greenpeace spokesman Jorg Feddern says photos of the wayward humpback show it is headed out of the Baltic Sea. German media have nicknamed the whale "Bucki," short for "Buckelwal," the German word for humpback.
A rescue team spent five days last week unsuccessfully searching for the whale. Feddern said Tuesday the whale must meet up with others and build up its winter fat-reserves in the North Sea.
Greenpeace spokesman Jorg Feddern says photos of the wayward humpback show it is headed out of the Baltic Sea. German media have nicknamed the whale "Bucki," short for "Buckelwal," the German word for humpback.
A rescue team spent five days last week unsuccessfully searching for the whale. Feddern said Tuesday the whale must meet up with others and build up its winter fat-reserves in the North Sea.
Whales Lose Blubber Due to Climate Change
TELEGRAPH.CO.UK
Whales are losing weight because of climate change, according to Japanese scientists.
The team for the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo measured the bodies of more than 4,500 Minkes that had been killed since the late 1980s when Japan started its controversial whaling programme.
The Japanese team's findings were rejected by two journals because of the unpopularity of the whaling programme among scientists. They found that the whales are getting thinner at an alarming rate and evidence suggests global warming could be to blame because it restricts food supplies.
Lars Walloe, a Norwegian whale expert at the University of Oslo, who helped with the study, said: "This is a big change in blubber and if it continues it could make it more difficult for the whales to survive. It indicates there have been some big changes in their ecosystem."
Whales need blubber for insulation and energy and the reduction could be affecting their ability to reproduce. Professor Walloe said that he did not think that they could measure the amount of blubber on a whale by any other way than by killing them.
The study has been published in Polar Biology, a mainstream, western scientific journal, which campaigners worry could lead to a validation of Japan’s whale hunting programme.
Whales are losing weight because of climate change, according to Japanese scientists.
The team for the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo measured the bodies of more than 4,500 Minkes that had been killed since the late 1980s when Japan started its controversial whaling programme.
The Japanese team's findings were rejected by two journals because of the unpopularity of the whaling programme among scientists. They found that the whales are getting thinner at an alarming rate and evidence suggests global warming could be to blame because it restricts food supplies.
Lars Walloe, a Norwegian whale expert at the University of Oslo, who helped with the study, said: "This is a big change in blubber and if it continues it could make it more difficult for the whales to survive. It indicates there have been some big changes in their ecosystem."
Whales need blubber for insulation and energy and the reduction could be affecting their ability to reproduce. Professor Walloe said that he did not think that they could measure the amount of blubber on a whale by any other way than by killing them.
The study has been published in Polar Biology, a mainstream, western scientific journal, which campaigners worry could lead to a validation of Japan’s whale hunting programme.
More Study Planned on Whale Carcass
CHARLESTON POST COURIER
Folly Beach resident Carol Linville looks at a 10-foot pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore on the beach Friday morning.
A necropsy of a pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore Friday at Folly Beach was inconclusive as to the cause of the animal's death, but further lab study is planned, a scientist said Monday.
The 10-foot-long, 800-pound whale was "heavily parasitized" and malnourished, said Wayne McFee, a marine biologist with the National Ocean Service. It died 24 to 48 hours before a surfer found it at East Arctic Avenue and 6th Street East. Its body temperature was "still fairly warm," he said.
Folly Beach resident Carol Linville looks at a 10-foot pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore on the beach Friday morning.
A necropsy of a pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore Friday at Folly Beach was inconclusive as to the cause of the animal's death, but further lab study is planned, a scientist said Monday.
The 10-foot-long, 800-pound whale was "heavily parasitized" and malnourished, said Wayne McFee, a marine biologist with the National Ocean Service. It died 24 to 48 hours before a surfer found it at East Arctic Avenue and 6th Street East. Its body temperature was "still fairly warm," he said.
Rare Albino Whale Named Wilgi Manung
PERTH, AU - A rare albino whale calf exciting tourists off the coast of Augusta has been named Wilgi Manung, the local indigenous words for white whale. The 5m southern right whale was born two months ago in Flinders Bay.
PerthNow readers were invited on Saturday to name the rare baleen calf – thought to be one of only ten in the world.
Over 150 suggestions were submitted, ranging from Colin -- after the lost humpback whale that was euthanased in Sydney waters - to Moby, Whitey, Casper and Matthew – after Matthew Flinders.
Whale watching company Naturaliste Charters, which first spotted the calf and work to record biological information of all whales who visit the region, chose the calf’s name.
PerthNow readers were invited on Saturday to name the rare baleen calf – thought to be one of only ten in the world.
Over 150 suggestions were submitted, ranging from Colin -- after the lost humpback whale that was euthanased in Sydney waters - to Moby, Whitey, Casper and Matthew – after Matthew Flinders.
Whale watching company Naturaliste Charters, which first spotted the calf and work to record biological information of all whales who visit the region, chose the calf’s name.
Slower Ship Speeds Proposed Near Whales
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is recommending a speed limit for commercial ships along the Atlantic coast, where collisions with the endangered right whale threaten its existence.
About 300 of the whales are left in the wild, and they migrate annually between their southeastern Atlantic breeding grounds to feeding areas off the Massachusetts coast, intersecting busy shipping lanes.
The rule would set a 10 knot speed limit within 23 miles of major mid-Atlantic ports and the whale's breeding and feeding areas
for five years. The rule then would expire or have to be renewed.
Those requirements differ from an earlier draft challenged by the White House, which disputed the science linking ship speed to whale deaths.
About 300 of the whales are left in the wild, and they migrate annually between their southeastern Atlantic breeding grounds to feeding areas off the Massachusetts coast, intersecting busy shipping lanes.
The rule would set a 10 knot speed limit within 23 miles of major mid-Atlantic ports and the whale's breeding and feeding areas
for five years. The rule then would expire or have to be renewed.
Those requirements differ from an earlier draft challenged by the White House, which disputed the science linking ship speed to whale deaths.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Whale Protection Rule for Ships Moving Forward
The federal government is moving forward with a rule to protect endangered right whales from ship strikes along the East Coast.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to announce this afternoon that it is filing a final environmental impact statement, one of the last steps in the process to implement long-awaited shipping restrictions.
The agency proposed a rule years ago requiring ships traveling parts of the East Coast to slow down to avoid colliding with endangered right whale. The rule has been delayed by an internal debate within the Bush administration about whether the benefits will outweigh the cost to the shipping industry. The industry has argued that the rule will make large ships harder to maneuver.
Ship strikes are considered the top human threat to the survival of right whales, one of the world's most endangered whales. Other existing and proposed rules have focused on another human threat -- entanglement in lobster and fishing gear.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to announce this afternoon that it is filing a final environmental impact statement, one of the last steps in the process to implement long-awaited shipping restrictions.
The agency proposed a rule years ago requiring ships traveling parts of the East Coast to slow down to avoid colliding with endangered right whale. The rule has been delayed by an internal debate within the Bush administration about whether the benefits will outweigh the cost to the shipping industry. The industry has argued that the rule will make large ships harder to maneuver.
Ship strikes are considered the top human threat to the survival of right whales, one of the world's most endangered whales. Other existing and proposed rules have focused on another human threat -- entanglement in lobster and fishing gear.
Juneau Assembly Considers Bronze Sculpture
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Juneau Assembly is set to review a proposal for a $500,000 bronze whale sculpture that would be located downtown. The sculpture is estimated to cost $1.2 million, a price tag that does not include the cost of the land and site preparation.
City Manager Rod Swope says estimates of a final cost have come in at $2.7 million.
The proposed funding would be made available to the Whale Committee, a group of citizens that has formed to raise funds for construction of the sculpture.
City Manager Rod Swope says estimates of a final cost have come in at $2.7 million.
The proposed funding would be made available to the Whale Committee, a group of citizens that has formed to raise funds for construction of the sculpture.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Another Dead Humpback: In Alaska
KODIAK -- A dead humpback whale that washed ashore at Fort Abercrombie State Park last week may be there to stay.
The 30-foot, 2-year-old whale was discovered Aug. 14 and has probably been dead three-and-a-half to four weeks, said district park ranger Kevin Murphy. Murphy said Fort Abercrombie staff have two main concerns about the whale.
"The Marine Mammal Protection Act, and more importantly, the Endangered Species Act protects those guys, even after death," he said. "So collection of soft or hard parts, bone or baleen or blubber is illegal." Murphy said tampering with an endangered species comes with a hefty $25,000 fine. He said that information is posted around the park, because there have been some bones disappearing from the carcass over the past week.
The 30-foot, 2-year-old whale was discovered Aug. 14 and has probably been dead three-and-a-half to four weeks, said district park ranger Kevin Murphy. Murphy said Fort Abercrombie staff have two main concerns about the whale.
"The Marine Mammal Protection Act, and more importantly, the Endangered Species Act protects those guys, even after death," he said. "So collection of soft or hard parts, bone or baleen or blubber is illegal." Murphy said tampering with an endangered species comes with a hefty $25,000 fine. He said that information is posted around the park, because there have been some bones disappearing from the carcass over the past week.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
No Answers in Whale's Death
Rough weather conditions have hampered attempts to conduct tests on an adult humpback whale believed to be the mother of baby whale Colette.
A gale warning for the far South Coast meant DNA samples could not be taken from the carcass, which was found floating off Eden on Friday. The latest development came as the 40 personnel involved in the round-the-clock operation to save Colette enjoyed some much-needed downtime.
National Parks and Wildlife Services spokesman John Dengate said the whale calf's death affected many employees. "Our staff have had a very difficult time and they're trying to work through their feelings,'' he said.
"We are going through the same grieving process as many people in Sydney although, because they've been up close and personal with this little whale, I think it's more real for them.''
A gale warning for the far South Coast meant DNA samples could not be taken from the carcass, which was found floating off Eden on Friday. The latest development came as the 40 personnel involved in the round-the-clock operation to save Colette enjoyed some much-needed downtime.
National Parks and Wildlife Services spokesman John Dengate said the whale calf's death affected many employees. "Our staff have had a very difficult time and they're trying to work through their feelings,'' he said.
"We are going through the same grieving process as many people in Sydney although, because they've been up close and personal with this little whale, I think it's more real for them.''
Whale's Death A Reality
Sydney Morning Herald
Eminent scientists say the death of baby humpback whales such as Colette is a reality of life in the wild.
The euthanasing on Friday of an orphaned humpback - affectionately called Colin and renamed when identified as a female - has made worldwide news. Angry sections of the community have targeted the National Parks and Wildlife Service over its handling of the whale's plight after it was discovered in shallow waters north of Sydney early last week.
But yesterday leading scientists Rob Harcourt and Nick Gales labelled the reaction as over the top and warned against pandering to hysteria. Dr Harcourt, director of marine science at the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University, said the decision to put down the starving animal after veterinary advice from Taronga Zoo and Sea World was the correct one
Eminent scientists say the death of baby humpback whales such as Colette is a reality of life in the wild.
The euthanasing on Friday of an orphaned humpback - affectionately called Colin and renamed when identified as a female - has made worldwide news. Angry sections of the community have targeted the National Parks and Wildlife Service over its handling of the whale's plight after it was discovered in shallow waters north of Sydney early last week.
But yesterday leading scientists Rob Harcourt and Nick Gales labelled the reaction as over the top and warned against pandering to hysteria. Dr Harcourt, director of marine science at the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University, said the decision to put down the starving animal after veterinary advice from Taronga Zoo and Sea World was the correct one
Calls for Whale Rescue Program
Sydney - The loss of a baby whale that was euthanised near Sydney yesterday has led to a call to save the mammals in both Australian and international waters.
Liberal environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the death of the whale is a tragic reminder that bold steps have to be taken to preserve the animals. He has called for the Federal Government to set up an Australian Whale Rescue and Recovery Program, and to deliver on a promise to take the Japanese to the International Court of Justice, in a bid to step its annual whale hunt.
Liberal environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the death of the whale is a tragic reminder that bold steps have to be taken to preserve the animals. He has called for the Federal Government to set up an Australian Whale Rescue and Recovery Program, and to deliver on a promise to take the Japanese to the International Court of Justice, in a bid to step its annual whale hunt.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Ottawa Opens Canada's First Whale Sanctuary in the North
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — After more than a quarter century of talks and delays, Canada's first sanctuary for bowhead whales has been created in the eastern Arctic waters frequented by the bus-sized mammals.
Environment Minister John Baird announced Friday the establishment of a whale habitat around the northeast coast of Baffin Island, along with the creation of two wildlife and bird sanctuaries.
More than 336,000 hectares of Isabella Bay will now be protected as the Niginganiq National Wildlife Area.
"Canada's Conservative government has made protecting the Arctic a real priority. We're not just talking about it; we're taking real and specific action," Baird said.
Named for their enormous bow-shaped skulls, bowhead whales were hunted voraciously in the 17th and 18th centuries for their blubber, which was then the main source of lamp oil. By the early 20th century, the whales were near extinction.
OTTAWA — After more than a quarter century of talks and delays, Canada's first sanctuary for bowhead whales has been created in the eastern Arctic waters frequented by the bus-sized mammals.
Environment Minister John Baird announced Friday the establishment of a whale habitat around the northeast coast of Baffin Island, along with the creation of two wildlife and bird sanctuaries.
More than 336,000 hectares of Isabella Bay will now be protected as the Niginganiq National Wildlife Area.
"Canada's Conservative government has made protecting the Arctic a real priority. We're not just talking about it; we're taking real and specific action," Baird said.
Named for their enormous bow-shaped skulls, bowhead whales were hunted voraciously in the 17th and 18th centuries for their blubber, which was then the main source of lamp oil. By the early 20th century, the whales were near extinction.
Colette's Sad Fate Leads to Whale Summit
An international whale summit is planned for Sydney as wildlife experts involved in the struggle to save the city's orphaned humpback admit they could have done things better.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service, forced to defend itself as community outrage mounted over its handling of Colette's plight, would host the proposed summit next year.
While it was first thought the baby whale, which had been named Colin but turned out to be Colette, had been abandoned, the carcass of a humpback found yesterday off the Far South Coast will be DNA tested to see if it was Colette's mother.
Grown men and locals living around the Basin in Pittwater were in tears as vets sedated the baby whale in shallow water yesterday morning, six days after it sought refuge in the sheltered waters in Sydney's north.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service, forced to defend itself as community outrage mounted over its handling of Colette's plight, would host the proposed summit next year.
While it was first thought the baby whale, which had been named Colin but turned out to be Colette, had been abandoned, the carcass of a humpback found yesterday off the Far South Coast will be DNA tested to see if it was Colette's mother.
Grown men and locals living around the Basin in Pittwater were in tears as vets sedated the baby whale in shallow water yesterday morning, six days after it sought refuge in the sheltered waters in Sydney's north.
Colin Was Actually Collen
HERALD SUN
Wildlife experts will do DNA tests on a dead whale they believe may have been the mother of a calf nicknamed Colin, hours after the young whale was euthanased.
The Daily Telegraph reports the development came as National Parks and Wildlife head Sally Barnes revealed Colin was actually Colleen - a female humpback whale calf.
It is believed a whale carcass being eaten by sharks near Eden on the New South Wales south coast may have been her mother, explaining why the young whale turned up alone and hungry in Pittwater on Sunday.
Wildlife experts will do DNA tests on a dead whale they believe may have been the mother of a calf nicknamed Colin, hours after the young whale was euthanased.
The Daily Telegraph reports the development came as National Parks and Wildlife head Sally Barnes revealed Colin was actually Colleen - a female humpback whale calf.
It is believed a whale carcass being eaten by sharks near Eden on the New South Wales south coast may have been her mother, explaining why the young whale turned up alone and hungry in Pittwater on Sunday.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Reader's Comments: Sad Farewell for Baby Whale
Reader's Comments
Colin, the abandoned baby whale, has been given a lethal injection after Sydney authorities said nothing could be done to save him. Soon after 8.30am wildlife officers gave the calf two jabs of anaesthetic.
The move came amid reports activists had attempted to issue an injunction to stop NSW government officials from putting the whale down, claiming more could have been done to save the whale.
Colin, the abandoned baby whale, has been given a lethal injection after Sydney authorities said nothing could be done to save him. Soon after 8.30am wildlife officers gave the calf two jabs of anaesthetic.
The move came amid reports activists had attempted to issue an injunction to stop NSW government officials from putting the whale down, claiming more could have been done to save the whale.
Colin the Whale "Struggled to the End"
Grown men were in tears as Colin the abandoned baby humpback whale struggled as he was dragged behind a boat before being left to thrash on a beach after he was injected with a fatal dose of anaesthetic this morning. Soon after 8.30am (AEST) officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Basin in Sydney's northern beaches gave the calf what was believed to be as many as seven jabs of anaesthetic.
"It's a tragic end to a program that dozens of people have put their hearts and souls into," said NPWS spokesman John Dengate, describing the act of ending Colin's life as "harrowing".
NPWS spokesman Chris McIntosh said: "It was a sad moment, but it went quietly to sleep. The calf has been quietly and humanely euthanased."
A vet on board a small boat administered an anaesthetic through a large needle, by simply leaning overboard and injecting the weakened humpback calf, he said.
But activists said more could have been done to save Colin and locals who witnessed Colin's death said it lacked dignity. Locals were in tears after the whale was euthanased.
In a shallow cove at Coasters Retreat, NPWS officers and Sea World Vet David Blyde administered about seven injections before towing the whale across the bay. The local community was outraged at how the NPWS dragged the baby whale, bucking and thrashing, across 300m of water. It was still thrashing when it was pulled up on the beach.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t let it die quietly,” said Michael Brown. “It was obviously distressed. I’m 41 years old and almost collapsed.”
Mr Brown and other locals were crying as the baby whale - which had sought refuge in the bay for five days - was lashed by ropes to the NPWS boat as it continued to struggle.
"It's a tragic end to a program that dozens of people have put their hearts and souls into," said NPWS spokesman John Dengate, describing the act of ending Colin's life as "harrowing".
NPWS spokesman Chris McIntosh said: "It was a sad moment, but it went quietly to sleep. The calf has been quietly and humanely euthanased."
A vet on board a small boat administered an anaesthetic through a large needle, by simply leaning overboard and injecting the weakened humpback calf, he said.
But activists said more could have been done to save Colin and locals who witnessed Colin's death said it lacked dignity. Locals were in tears after the whale was euthanased.
In a shallow cove at Coasters Retreat, NPWS officers and Sea World Vet David Blyde administered about seven injections before towing the whale across the bay. The local community was outraged at how the NPWS dragged the baby whale, bucking and thrashing, across 300m of water. It was still thrashing when it was pulled up on the beach.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t let it die quietly,” said Michael Brown. “It was obviously distressed. I’m 41 years old and almost collapsed.”
Mr Brown and other locals were crying as the baby whale - which had sought refuge in the bay for five days - was lashed by ropes to the NPWS boat as it continued to struggle.
Gray Whales Offered as Sentinels of Climate Change
Species dependent on sea ice, such as the gray whale, provide the clearest examples of sensitivity to climate change, according to an article in the June 2008 Journal of Mammalogy, published by the American Society of Mammalogists.
The behavioral ecology of gray whales in the eastern North Pacific and Arctic oceans could help illustrate the importance of ecological processes acting over large spatial scales.
"Much more can be achieved by selecting specific marine mammal species as vectors to investigations of full ecosystems," writes Sue E. Moore in her article "Marine Mammals as Ecosystem Sentinels."
Moore outlines six correlations betweens changes in the distribution and behavior of gray whales and changes in their environment, including the timing of migration and their response to El Niño or La Niña weather patterns. This suggests gray whales are effective sentinels of change in ecosystems, Moore says.
The use of gray whales as sentinels goes beyond tracking distribution changes, Moore says. Tests on the whales' blubber can detect pollutant levels and changes in their diet. "The overall health of marine mammals ultimately reflects the health of the ecosystems upon which they depend," she writes.
Existing research strategies must be expanded to allow for the use of marine mammals as sentinels of ecosystem change, Moore says. They are ideal for such research because these "charismatic megafauna" capture the public's attention too, she says, providing opportunities for education and outreach on oceanic and environmental issues.
The behavioral ecology of gray whales in the eastern North Pacific and Arctic oceans could help illustrate the importance of ecological processes acting over large spatial scales.
"Much more can be achieved by selecting specific marine mammal species as vectors to investigations of full ecosystems," writes Sue E. Moore in her article "Marine Mammals as Ecosystem Sentinels."
Moore outlines six correlations betweens changes in the distribution and behavior of gray whales and changes in their environment, including the timing of migration and their response to El Niño or La Niña weather patterns. This suggests gray whales are effective sentinels of change in ecosystems, Moore says.
The use of gray whales as sentinels goes beyond tracking distribution changes, Moore says. Tests on the whales' blubber can detect pollutant levels and changes in their diet. "The overall health of marine mammals ultimately reflects the health of the ecosystems upon which they depend," she writes.
Existing research strategies must be expanded to allow for the use of marine mammals as sentinels of ecosystem change, Moore says. They are ideal for such research because these "charismatic megafauna" capture the public's attention too, she says, providing opportunities for education and outreach on oceanic and environmental issues.
Oil, Gas Seismic Work Not Affecting Gulf Sperm Whales, Study Shows
ScienceDaily — Noise can be irritating and possibly harmful for everything from mice to humans – and maybe even 60-foot whales in the Gulf of Mexico.
In recent years, there has been concern that man-made noise may be a cause of stress for dolphins, whales and other marine mammals, but the results of a five-year study show that noise pollution – especially noise generated by seismic airguns during geophysical exploration for oil and gas – seems to have minimal effect on endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico, say researchers from Texas A&M University who led the project and released their 323-page report today at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The multi-year $9 million study, the largest of its type ever undertaken and formally titled Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico, was conducted by the Minerals Management Service and featured cooperation with the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The project brought together researchers from eight universities, but it was managed overall by Texas A&M's Department of Oceanography, with research scientist Ann Jochens and professor Doug Biggs serving as principal investigators.
"The bottom line is that airgun noise from seismic surveys that are thousands of yards distant does not drive away sperm whales living in the Gulf," Biggs explains.
In recent years, there has been concern that man-made noise may be a cause of stress for dolphins, whales and other marine mammals, but the results of a five-year study show that noise pollution – especially noise generated by seismic airguns during geophysical exploration for oil and gas – seems to have minimal effect on endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico, say researchers from Texas A&M University who led the project and released their 323-page report today at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The multi-year $9 million study, the largest of its type ever undertaken and formally titled Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico, was conducted by the Minerals Management Service and featured cooperation with the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The project brought together researchers from eight universities, but it was managed overall by Texas A&M's Department of Oceanography, with research scientist Ann Jochens and professor Doug Biggs serving as principal investigators.
"The bottom line is that airgun noise from seismic surveys that are thousands of yards distant does not drive away sperm whales living in the Gulf," Biggs explains.
Must Be Love, Whatever the Species
SYNDEY MORNING HERALD - The sight of that baby humpback whale nuzzling and sucking at the keel of a yacht, watched by a group of helpless adults, stirred up old deep and familiar anxieties that used to assail me when my children were babies. What if I had a car accident and couldn't feed them? What if someone stole them out of the stroller? What if, in other words, we were separated by some unforseen circumstance and I couldn't get to them and they were alone and hungry crying for me?
As I watched the news I became mother whale, and the baby whale desperate for his milk and his mother became my baby. Even writing about it now is making my stomach lurch.
How weird. It was only a baby whale after all, not a human baby. Maybe the whale calf was not distraught, puzzled and grief-stricken for his mother but just hungry. How do I know that this tragedy was not about a set of unavoidable circumstances but because his mother deliberately abandoned him for her own good reasons?
As I watched the news I became mother whale, and the baby whale desperate for his milk and his mother became my baby. Even writing about it now is making my stomach lurch.
How weird. It was only a baby whale after all, not a human baby. Maybe the whale calf was not distraught, puzzled and grief-stricken for his mother but just hungry. How do I know that this tragedy was not about a set of unavoidable circumstances but because his mother deliberately abandoned him for her own good reasons?
Tears for Orphaned Whale
An orphaned baby whale that broke hearts in Australia when it tried to suckle the hull of a yacht is to be put down, officials said Thursday.
Animal lovers who had rigged up a makeshift feeding device to try and keep the month-old humpback alive have accepted that the calf can't be saved. Experts said that the improvised feeding device would not work, and that anyway the longer-term prognosis was also bleak.
"The whole issue's been quite harrowing, not only for our staff but for the community in general, where people have really been concerned about this whale," Dengate said. "They've said to us, 'Can't you do this? Can't you do that?' We've tried really hard to follow every bit of advice that's come through."
Animal lovers who had rigged up a makeshift feeding device to try and keep the month-old humpback alive have accepted that the calf can't be saved. Experts said that the improvised feeding device would not work, and that anyway the longer-term prognosis was also bleak.
"The whole issue's been quite harrowing, not only for our staff but for the community in general, where people have really been concerned about this whale," Dengate said. "They've said to us, 'Can't you do this? Can't you do that?' We've tried really hard to follow every bit of advice that's come through."
Rescuers Shattered Over Whale's Fate
The fate of a baby humpback whale stranded in a Sydney waterway has been decided, with Colin set to be euthanased to end his suffering. The decision was made at a meeting of NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) workers, scientists and representatives of other agencies after the calf's deteriorating health took a drastic turn for the worse.
Affectionately named Colin, the calf unexpectedly appeared on Sunday at The Basin, inside Sydney's Pittwater, and returned on Tuesday after being towed out to sea.
"The vets who had a look at him were really surprised at how fast he'd gone downhill,'' NPWS spokesman John Dengate said. "He's having difficulties breathing and his flippers were at an unnatural angle. Their advice to us was `he's not going to last much longer, he's suffering and you should take action'.''
Affectionately named Colin, the calf unexpectedly appeared on Sunday at The Basin, inside Sydney's Pittwater, and returned on Tuesday after being towed out to sea.
"The vets who had a look at him were really surprised at how fast he'd gone downhill,'' NPWS spokesman John Dengate said. "He's having difficulties breathing and his flippers were at an unnatural angle. Their advice to us was `he's not going to last much longer, he's suffering and you should take action'.''
Australian Officials to Euthanize Baby Whale
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — An Australian environmental official says an abandoned baby whale that has been attempting to suckle boats in the waters off north Sydney will be euthanized.
Veterinarians and marine researchers who spent the afternoon examining the whale found that it was in such poor condition that it would likely not live through the night, said Sally Barnes, deputy director-general of the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
"The calf was in much worse condition than they originally thought and the injuries were a lot worse than they thought as well, probably from a shark attack," she said. The plight of the whale has dominated Australia's news coverage since the creature was first sighted Sunday in waters off north Sydney and began trying to suckle from boats.
Veterinarians and marine researchers who spent the afternoon examining the whale found that it was in such poor condition that it would likely not live through the night, said Sally Barnes, deputy director-general of the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
"The calf was in much worse condition than they originally thought and the injuries were a lot worse than they thought as well, probably from a shark attack," she said. The plight of the whale has dominated Australia's news coverage since the creature was first sighted Sunday in waters off north Sydney and began trying to suckle from boats.
Record Whales Off Southern Australia
SYDNEY - Tourists and marine researchers have been delighted to see record numbers of whales in the Great Australian Bight this season. The tourist officer at Ceduna in the far west of South Australia, Margie Stott, says there have now been 166 different whales spotted in the current season.
She says it is 23 more than the previous record back in 2005. "You find them in at Fowler's Bay, you find them - my husband was out fishing in the bay here at Ceduna and found a cow and calf the other day so they're all along the coast here," she said.
She says it is 23 more than the previous record back in 2005. "You find them in at Fowler's Bay, you find them - my husband was out fishing in the bay here at Ceduna and found a cow and calf the other day so they're all along the coast here," she said.
Activists Push to Free Lolita the Whale
MIAMI - It's Miami's aquatic equivalent of "Free Mumia." Activists hold protests and send urgent e-manifestos. But they succeed in swaying all but the two guys who could do anything about it. And Lolita, Miami Seaquarium's long-captive orca, goes on munching chum and belly-flopping in her bathtublike tank.
Shark Fear Stops Baby Whale Tow
SYDNEY - Authorities are now reviewing whether to use an inflatable sling in an attempt to unite a baby humpback whale with other whales in a bid to save its life.
A meeting will be held later today, involving National Parks staff and experts such as whale expert Dr David Blyde, from Sea World on the Gold Coast, to determine what to do next for the whale, National Parks spokesman John Dengate said.
This included assessing whether to euthanise the whale, or whether to tow it out to sea to unite it with another pod, he said.
"But that could be dangerous for the whale because, if it doesn't find a lactating female, it's just out there on its own and there's all sorts of sharks out there.
A meeting will be held later today, involving National Parks staff and experts such as whale expert Dr David Blyde, from Sea World on the Gold Coast, to determine what to do next for the whale, National Parks spokesman John Dengate said.
This included assessing whether to euthanise the whale, or whether to tow it out to sea to unite it with another pod, he said.
"But that could be dangerous for the whale because, if it doesn't find a lactating female, it's just out there on its own and there's all sorts of sharks out there.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
No Baby Whale Feeding Solution After Expert Talks
Concerns about a baby whale abandoned off Sydney's northern beaches are growing after talks with US experts failed to come up with a way to save the animal.
The NSW Environment Department says a decision will have to be made soon about whether to destroy the baby humpback, which is swimming in Pittwater.
The Department's John Dengate says it has been speaking with US experts about ways to feed the animal so that it can live.
"They're advice to us was unless you've got a 30 megalitre pool that you can drain every two hours, unless you've 30 people who can jump on the whale and restrain it, unless you've got some really sophisticated facilities, you can't do it where you are," he said.
The NSW Environment Department says a decision will have to be made soon about whether to destroy the baby humpback, which is swimming in Pittwater.
The Department's John Dengate says it has been speaking with US experts about ways to feed the animal so that it can live.
"They're advice to us was unless you've got a 30 megalitre pool that you can drain every two hours, unless you've 30 people who can jump on the whale and restrain it, unless you've got some really sophisticated facilities, you can't do it where you are," he said.
Sydney Ours Heart Out for "Colin"
Time is running out for Colin, the abandoned humpback whale calf stranded in Sydney’s Pittwater. Wildlife authorities are debating whether to euthanase the 4.5-metre mammal rather than allow it to suffer a slow, painful death.
The baby whale, believed to be about two to three weeks old, was first spotted on Sunday, nuzzling up to a yacht in the northern Sydney waterway in an apparent search for its mother.
Colin's plight has tugged at the heartstrings of Sydneysiders.
The baby whale, believed to be about two to three weeks old, was first spotted on Sunday, nuzzling up to a yacht in the northern Sydney waterway in an apparent search for its mother.
Colin's plight has tugged at the heartstrings of Sydneysiders.
Baby Whale Adoption Attempt Fails
Attempts to lure a stranded baby humpback whale back to sea off Sydney have failed, the New South Wales Government says.
The calf, believed to be about two to three weeks old, was apparently abandoned by its mother in waters just north of Sydney. It was first spotted on Sunday in the Pittwater area, nuzzling up to a yacht in an apparent search for its mother.
Authorities have said the baby whale needs its mother, or another whale to adopt it, within days if it is to have any hope of survival. An attempt was made this morning to lure the calf out to sea in the hope it would be adopted by a passing pod of whales.
The calf, believed to be about two to three weeks old, was apparently abandoned by its mother in waters just north of Sydney. It was first spotted on Sunday in the Pittwater area, nuzzling up to a yacht in an apparent search for its mother.
Authorities have said the baby whale needs its mother, or another whale to adopt it, within days if it is to have any hope of survival. An attempt was made this morning to lure the calf out to sea in the hope it would be adopted by a passing pod of whales.
World Expects Called to Save Abandoned Baby Whale
Blood tests on an abandoned baby whale will be carried out while it increasingly shows signs of distress after being separated from its mother.
Experts from around the world are increasingly calling for authorities to euthanize the small humpback whale, which is believed to just a few weeks old. While others are suggesting for attempt to feed it with baby formula.
The whale was first discovered nuzzling a boat in Pittwater, in Sydney’s north, on Sunday. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesman John Dengate said “Colin” – as the whale has become known as by officials – is now “diving more than it has been”.
“It’s fair to say it is distressed,” Mr Dengate said. “We haven’t given up, but the prognosis is grim.”
Experts from around the world are increasingly calling for authorities to euthanize the small humpback whale, which is believed to just a few weeks old. While others are suggesting for attempt to feed it with baby formula.
The whale was first discovered nuzzling a boat in Pittwater, in Sydney’s north, on Sunday. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesman John Dengate said “Colin” – as the whale has become known as by officials – is now “diving more than it has been”.
“It’s fair to say it is distressed,” Mr Dengate said. “We haven’t given up, but the prognosis is grim.”
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Beached Whale Euthanized
VERO BEACH, FL--Harbor Branch officials Tuesday euthanized the female pygmy sperm whale found early this afternoon at South Beach in Vero Beach.
The 9 1/2 --10 foot long whale was diagnosed with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy and had fluid in the lungs, said Gregory Bossart, chief marine animal veterinarian at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.
A necropsy on the whale will be conducted early Wednesday morning, Bossart said.
The 1,000 pound whale became beached about 1:30 p.m. near South Beach, according to the Vero Beach Police Department. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used water from their fire engine to rinse the whale and keep it wet until Harbor Branch officials arrived.
The 9 1/2 --10 foot long whale was diagnosed with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy and had fluid in the lungs, said Gregory Bossart, chief marine animal veterinarian at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.
A necropsy on the whale will be conducted early Wednesday morning, Bossart said.
The 1,000 pound whale became beached about 1:30 p.m. near South Beach, according to the Vero Beach Police Department. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used water from their fire engine to rinse the whale and keep it wet until Harbor Branch officials arrived.
Beached Whale Moved
VERO BEACH — A pygmy sperm whale is en route to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce after it was found Tuesday afternoon beached in Vero Beach.
The 10- to 12-foot whale became beached about 1:30 p.m. near South Beach, according to the Vero Beach Police Department. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used water from their fire engine to rinse the whale and keep it wet until Harbor Branch officials arrived.
A small group of Harbor Branch officials and bystanders loaded the whale into a special tarp made for moving large mammals and took it from the beach to a nearby Harbor Branch transportation vehicle.
The 10- to 12-foot whale became beached about 1:30 p.m. near South Beach, according to the Vero Beach Police Department. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used water from their fire engine to rinse the whale and keep it wet until Harbor Branch officials arrived.
A small group of Harbor Branch officials and bystanders loaded the whale into a special tarp made for moving large mammals and took it from the beach to a nearby Harbor Branch transportation vehicle.
Abandoned Baby Whale Weakens
A baby humpback calf that turned to a yacht for maternal care in Sydney's waterways after being abandoned by its mother will be lucky to survive the week -- unless it finds a more likely guardian. Wildlife officers have grave fears for the young humpback's survival after watching it grow weaker yesterday.
John Dengate, the director of public affairs for the NSW Department of Environment, said: "It has to get humpback whale milk and there is no way that that can be provided in captivity. Unless it finds its mother or a foster mum, its chances are very, very small."
The whale, believed to have been born on the NSW coast two to three weeks ago, was seen in Pittwater, north of Sydney, on Sunday and was found again on Monday in Refuge Bay trying to suckle a whale-sized yacht called Uplift.
"It attached itself to a yacht, it thought the yacht was its mother," Mr Dengate said. "It is very sad." The calf left the yacht after it was towed out to sea about 1km from Barrenjoey Head on Monday. Despite other whales passing the area, the calf turned up at Pittwater again yesterday morning, at Great Mackerel Beach and The Basin.
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service officers monitored the calf throughout the day and consulted with the RSPCA, Sea World and Taronga Zoo over the best way to help the animal. "This may well be nature taking its course but nonetheless we are doing all we can to help," Mr Dengate said. He said it was not uncommon for one or two dead whale calves to be found on NSW beaches each year.
A gray whale calf was successfully reared in captivity in California in 1997, but Mr Dengate said hand-rearing humpbacks was a different story. Gray whales were smaller, had a shorter suckling period and could access their natural food supply close to their release site in California, whereas a released humpback would have to make its way to Antarctica.
John Dengate, the director of public affairs for the NSW Department of Environment, said: "It has to get humpback whale milk and there is no way that that can be provided in captivity. Unless it finds its mother or a foster mum, its chances are very, very small."
The whale, believed to have been born on the NSW coast two to three weeks ago, was seen in Pittwater, north of Sydney, on Sunday and was found again on Monday in Refuge Bay trying to suckle a whale-sized yacht called Uplift.
"It attached itself to a yacht, it thought the yacht was its mother," Mr Dengate said. "It is very sad." The calf left the yacht after it was towed out to sea about 1km from Barrenjoey Head on Monday. Despite other whales passing the area, the calf turned up at Pittwater again yesterday morning, at Great Mackerel Beach and The Basin.
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service officers monitored the calf throughout the day and consulted with the RSPCA, Sea World and Taronga Zoo over the best way to help the animal. "This may well be nature taking its course but nonetheless we are doing all we can to help," Mr Dengate said. He said it was not uncommon for one or two dead whale calves to be found on NSW beaches each year.
A gray whale calf was successfully reared in captivity in California in 1997, but Mr Dengate said hand-rearing humpbacks was a different story. Gray whales were smaller, had a shorter suckling period and could access their natural food supply close to their release site in California, whereas a released humpback would have to make its way to Antarctica.
Baby Whale Not First to Bond with a Boat
LA TIMES - News out of Sydney, Australia, that a lost humpback whale calf has adopted a yacht as its mother got us thinking about another notable bond between an animal and a boat.
Petra, a black swan at a German zoo, also garnered international attention in 2006 when she apparently developed a fondness for a paddle boat shaped like an over-sized white swan, refusing to leave its side. Petra later found a real-life swan lover, but after he left her, zoo officials this year reunited her with her old flame -- the one with plastic plumage.
The baby whale's devotion to the yacht seems similarly steadfast: After first being spotted Sunday, on Monday the 1- to 2-month-old was seen trying to suckle the boat and would not leave.
To try to coax the whale back out to sea and closer to its mother or to a pod of whales, rescuers towed the duo out to sea, where the calf detached from the boat, but remained close by.
Petra, a black swan at a German zoo, also garnered international attention in 2006 when she apparently developed a fondness for a paddle boat shaped like an over-sized white swan, refusing to leave its side. Petra later found a real-life swan lover, but after he left her, zoo officials this year reunited her with her old flame -- the one with plastic plumage.
The baby whale's devotion to the yacht seems similarly steadfast: After first being spotted Sunday, on Monday the 1- to 2-month-old was seen trying to suckle the boat and would not leave.
To try to coax the whale back out to sea and closer to its mother or to a pod of whales, rescuers towed the duo out to sea, where the calf detached from the boat, but remained close by.
Fears Grow for Lost Baby Whale
SYDNEY (AFP) — Fears were growing Tuesday for the survival chances of a lost baby humpback whale who tried to suckle from an Australian yacht in the belief it was its mother.
Wildlife experts used the yacht to lure the calf out of Pittwater bay near Sydney's Palm Beach on Monday, hoping it would link up with other whales passing by on their annual breeding migration. But early on Tuesday the calf was reportedly spotted back in Pittwater, apparently having failed to find either its own mother or a surrogate, Department of National Parks and Wildlife spokesman Chris McIntosh told AFP.
"We successfully lured the calf about a kilometre out to sea -- probably the first time that's been done using a yacht as a surrogate mother," he said.
"Later we saw whales a bit further offshore and there was a slender chance it may have linked up with them, but this morning we have got reports that it has returned to the western shores of Pittwater."
Mcintosh said the calf risked running out of energy through lack of food, being attacked by sharks, simply dying of hunger or beaching itself.
Wildlife experts used the yacht to lure the calf out of Pittwater bay near Sydney's Palm Beach on Monday, hoping it would link up with other whales passing by on their annual breeding migration. But early on Tuesday the calf was reportedly spotted back in Pittwater, apparently having failed to find either its own mother or a surrogate, Department of National Parks and Wildlife spokesman Chris McIntosh told AFP.
"We successfully lured the calf about a kilometre out to sea -- probably the first time that's been done using a yacht as a surrogate mother," he said.
"Later we saw whales a bit further offshore and there was a slender chance it may have linked up with them, but this morning we have got reports that it has returned to the western shores of Pittwater."
Mcintosh said the calf risked running out of energy through lack of food, being attacked by sharks, simply dying of hunger or beaching itself.
Carolina Residents Can't Save Stranded Whale
A pygmy sperm whale washed ashore at Holden Beach has died. Residents did their best to keep the 700-pound animal wet, but nobody could save the animal. Residents kept wet towels on the whale until UNCW's Marine Mammal Stranding Team transported the animal.
The pygmy sperm whale died as University of North Carolina Wilmington's Marine Mammal Stranding Team was transporting it to a veterinarian, said Ann Pabst, co-director of the stranding program. An examination of the nearly 700-pound, 11-foot long animal showed he had several health problems, she said.
"It's an animal that should never be close to shore," she said, noting it's too early to tell exactly what caused the whale to show up on the strand. The whale was spotted off Ocean Isle Beach the night before, but the team cannot safely work in the dark, Pabst said. She said several members of the public assisted in keeping water on the whale when it was on Holden Beach.
She said the team appreciated the help. But she reminded the public to always be careful if there is a stranded mammal because they are large and can unintentionally be dangerous. She advised people to call local law enforcement if they see a live or dead marine mammal on shore. The team investigates all stranded mammals.
The pygmy sperm whale died as University of North Carolina Wilmington's Marine Mammal Stranding Team was transporting it to a veterinarian, said Ann Pabst, co-director of the stranding program. An examination of the nearly 700-pound, 11-foot long animal showed he had several health problems, she said.
"It's an animal that should never be close to shore," she said, noting it's too early to tell exactly what caused the whale to show up on the strand. The whale was spotted off Ocean Isle Beach the night before, but the team cannot safely work in the dark, Pabst said. She said several members of the public assisted in keeping water on the whale when it was on Holden Beach.
She said the team appreciated the help. But she reminded the public to always be careful if there is a stranded mammal because they are large and can unintentionally be dangerous. She advised people to call local law enforcement if they see a live or dead marine mammal on shore. The team investigates all stranded mammals.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wandering Whale Leaves German Waters
BERLIN (AP) - A wayward Humpback whale first sighted in Germany has made its way north to Danish waters, hopefully on its way out of danger, an expert said Monday.
The whale, dubbed "Bucki" by the German media, has improved its chances of survival by heading toward Denmark, but still has to make it through one of the narrow entrances connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, says Klaus Harder, a biologist at the German Ocean Museum for Sea Mammals in Stralsund.
"The whale is closer to the Kattegat, a passageway to the North Sea, and therefore closer to its usual summer habitat, the nutrient-rich Arctic waters," Harder said.
The whale has drawn plenty of media attention since it was spotted about three weeks ago off the German island of Ruegen. Biologists have been worried it could not survive long in the Baltic, which doesn't offer the conditions it needs for survival.
The whale, dubbed "Bucki" by the German media, has improved its chances of survival by heading toward Denmark, but still has to make it through one of the narrow entrances connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, says Klaus Harder, a biologist at the German Ocean Museum for Sea Mammals in Stralsund.
"The whale is closer to the Kattegat, a passageway to the North Sea, and therefore closer to its usual summer habitat, the nutrient-rich Arctic waters," Harder said.
The whale has drawn plenty of media attention since it was spotted about three weeks ago off the German island of Ruegen. Biologists have been worried it could not survive long in the Baltic, which doesn't offer the conditions it needs for survival.
Lost Whale Calf Bonds with Australian Yacht
Australian authorities said a lost humpback whale calf has bonded with a yacht it seems to think is its mother.
The one to two-month-old calf was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney, and on Monday tried to suckle from a yacht, which it would not leave.
Rescuers towed the yacht out to sea, and the calf finally detached from the boat but still swam nearby, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Channel 10 television news reported.
The calf appears exhausted but rescuers hope it will continue out to sea and search for its mother or another pod of whales.
"The outlook is not good, but we are giving the calf its only option. It can't be fed, and in fact we wouldn't know what to feed it" because it is not weaned, National Parks and Wildlife regional manager Chris McIntosh told ABC radio.
The one to two-month-old calf was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney, and on Monday tried to suckle from a yacht, which it would not leave.
Rescuers towed the yacht out to sea, and the calf finally detached from the boat but still swam nearby, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Channel 10 television news reported.
The calf appears exhausted but rescuers hope it will continue out to sea and search for its mother or another pod of whales.
"The outlook is not good, but we are giving the calf its only option. It can't be fed, and in fact we wouldn't know what to feed it" because it is not weaned, National Parks and Wildlife regional manager Chris McIntosh told ABC radio.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Exhumed Whale to go to Te Papa
Dominion Post
A rare whale has been exhumed from its burial place near a Coromandel beach for removal to Te Papa in Wellington.
The 2.4-metre male melon-headed whale beached itself repeatedly in Mercury Bay, Coromandel, in January last year before it died on rocks at Brophy's Beach, Whitianga.
It was the first recorded sighting of a melon-headed whale in New Zealand waters, though Te Papa has a pre-1900s skull of this species. It is not known where the skull came from.
A rare whale has been exhumed from its burial place near a Coromandel beach for removal to Te Papa in Wellington.
The 2.4-metre male melon-headed whale beached itself repeatedly in Mercury Bay, Coromandel, in January last year before it died on rocks at Brophy's Beach, Whitianga.
It was the first recorded sighting of a melon-headed whale in New Zealand waters, though Te Papa has a pre-1900s skull of this species. It is not known where the skull came from.
Survey Keeps Ear on Sonar
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Findings from an extensive research project this summer on the effect of sonar on marine mammals will be released in December. The information gathered from the $400,000 study -- done jointly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service and the U.S. Navy -- is still being analyzed, said NOAA spokeswoman Connie Barclay.
Barclay also said NOAA scientists are tracking the electronic-monitoring tags placed on deep-diving beaked, pilot, melon-headed and false killer whales. The devices are expected to provide information on the movements of these marine mammals around the Hawaiian Islands.
NOAA said more than 30 marine mammals were tagged with listening and movement sensors during the recently completed Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, which involved 35 ships and six submarines from 10 nations.
Findings from an extensive research project this summer on the effect of sonar on marine mammals will be released in December. The information gathered from the $400,000 study -- done jointly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service and the U.S. Navy -- is still being analyzed, said NOAA spokeswoman Connie Barclay.
Barclay also said NOAA scientists are tracking the electronic-monitoring tags placed on deep-diving beaked, pilot, melon-headed and false killer whales. The devices are expected to provide information on the movements of these marine mammals around the Hawaiian Islands.
NOAA said more than 30 marine mammals were tagged with listening and movement sensors during the recently completed Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, which involved 35 ships and six submarines from 10 nations.
Mediterranean Whale Survey Indicates Decline
Wildlife Extra
It's an impressive sight watching a twenty metre long fin whale break the ocean surface. Fin whales are rare and elusive animals but one of the best places to observe them is here in the Pelagos Sanctuary. It is a marine protected area in the western Mediterranean that stretches between Corsica, the south of mainland France and northern Italy.
Collaborating with environmental organisation Greenpeace, a group of Italian researchers is carrying out a survey of the whale and dolphin populations in the region. Simone Panigada, a whale scientist from the Tethys Institute in Milan, is keen to find out how the cetaceans are doing.
It's an impressive sight watching a twenty metre long fin whale break the ocean surface. Fin whales are rare and elusive animals but one of the best places to observe them is here in the Pelagos Sanctuary. It is a marine protected area in the western Mediterranean that stretches between Corsica, the south of mainland France and northern Italy.
Collaborating with environmental organisation Greenpeace, a group of Italian researchers is carrying out a survey of the whale and dolphin populations in the region. Simone Panigada, a whale scientist from the Tethys Institute in Milan, is keen to find out how the cetaceans are doing.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
In Germany, Wandering Whale Creates Wonderment
By NICOLE BURGOYNE
BERLIN (AP) — Germans have been treated to the rare sight of a lone and wayward humpback whale swimming in the Baltic Sea, but marine biologists said it may be doomed because the waterway lacks the conditions such mammals need to survive. The humpback has been spotted several times near Rostock city in recent days, according to the biologists, who say such whales don't typically range too far into the Baltic.
BERLIN (AP) — Germans have been treated to the rare sight of a lone and wayward humpback whale swimming in the Baltic Sea, but marine biologists said it may be doomed because the waterway lacks the conditions such mammals need to survive. The humpback has been spotted several times near Rostock city in recent days, according to the biologists, who say such whales don't typically range too far into the Baltic.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Humpbacks Mate with Great Barrier Serande
From Peter Michael
Scientists are hoping to uncover the equivalent of a humpback whale karaoke bar on the Great Barrier Reef while observing the creatures' mating ritual.
Male humpbacks are known to gather in groups at sites called "leks" off the Queensland coast to sing and impress females into mating with them. But exactly where remains a mystery.
The Great Barrier Reef is proving a huge drawcard for the gentle giants of the sea this year as an estimated 11,000 humpbacks head north on their annual migration. In an elaborate mating ritual, the males croon and the females listen, and assess, before pairing off, much like the late-night human tango witnessed in pubs and clubs.
Whale researchers also hope to identify other "hot spots" on the Reef, such as popular birthing grounds and the sheltered nurseries of newborn calves.
Scientists are hoping to uncover the equivalent of a humpback whale karaoke bar on the Great Barrier Reef while observing the creatures' mating ritual.
Male humpbacks are known to gather in groups at sites called "leks" off the Queensland coast to sing and impress females into mating with them. But exactly where remains a mystery.
The Great Barrier Reef is proving a huge drawcard for the gentle giants of the sea this year as an estimated 11,000 humpbacks head north on their annual migration. In an elaborate mating ritual, the males croon and the females listen, and assess, before pairing off, much like the late-night human tango witnessed in pubs and clubs.
Whale researchers also hope to identify other "hot spots" on the Reef, such as popular birthing grounds and the sheltered nurseries of newborn calves.
Chile's Parliament Approves Whale Hunting Ban
Santiago, Chile, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chile's lower house of parliament approved a draft bill Wednesday prohibiting whale hunting on the country's coast.
The initiative seeks to make it illegal to kill, hunt, capture, transport, disembark, commercialize, store or perform any process of transformation on an alive or dead cetacean. The motion, which received 57 votes in favor, also sets fines and a prison sentence ranging from three years and a day to five years for violators of the law, which will now be considered by the Senate.
The president of the Natural Resources Commission, Enrique Accorsi, hailed the passing of the initiative, which had been sent by President Michelle Bachelet on July 23.
The initiative seeks to make it illegal to kill, hunt, capture, transport, disembark, commercialize, store or perform any process of transformation on an alive or dead cetacean. The motion, which received 57 votes in favor, also sets fines and a prison sentence ranging from three years and a day to five years for violators of the law, which will now be considered by the Senate.
The president of the Natural Resources Commission, Enrique Accorsi, hailed the passing of the initiative, which had been sent by President Michelle Bachelet on July 23.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Quebec Red Tide Kill Beluga Whales
CBC News reports that a red algae infestation in the St. Lawrence Seaway caused by heavy rain this summer may have caused the death of several marine animals, including birds, fish and a handful of beluga whales, say scientists in the area.
Residents in the Lower St. Lawrence region and greater Rimouski area have reported finding hundreds of dead sturgeon and birds on the shore.
And seven beluga whales have been found dead in the past week, about half of the average annual death toll recorded for the species, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Residents in the Lower St. Lawrence region and greater Rimouski area have reported finding hundreds of dead sturgeon and birds on the shore.
And seven beluga whales have been found dead in the past week, about half of the average annual death toll recorded for the species, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Two Beluga Whales Up the River
McGRATH, Alaska — Two beluga whales making their way up the Kuskokwim River have been spotted again. The whales were seen Tuesday evening, August 12, in front of the old Red Devil mine just above the village of Red Devil. Several residents of Sleetmute have reported seeing them.
On Sunday evening, the whales were spotted 35 miles downriver. They are thought to be a cow with her calf. The whales were first reported by the mouth of the Oskawalik River, 10 miles below Crooked Creek, by a helicopter crew connected to the Donlin Creek Mine near Crooked.
The last verified sighting of whales so far up the Kuskokwim was in the late 1980s.
On Sunday evening, the whales were spotted 35 miles downriver. They are thought to be a cow with her calf. The whales were first reported by the mouth of the Oskawalik River, 10 miles below Crooked Creek, by a helicopter crew connected to the Donlin Creek Mine near Crooked.
The last verified sighting of whales so far up the Kuskokwim was in the late 1980s.
Tailless Humpback Makes 12,500 Mile Journey
Stumped ... whale experts are surprised that "Stumpy," a humpback whale with no tail, has made a 12,500 mile journey from the Antarctica to Australia. The whale, nicknamed Stumpy, was today sighted playing off Queensland's Sunshine Coast by whale watchers aboard the Australia Zoo boat "Steve's Whale One."
The boat's skipper Allan Short said he last saw the disfigured whale as a yearling in Hervey Bay in 2001. Scratch marks on its side indicate it was injured in a killer whale attack, Mr Short said.
The boat's skipper Allan Short said he last saw the disfigured whale as a yearling in Hervey Bay in 2001. Scratch marks on its side indicate it was injured in a killer whale attack, Mr Short said.
"When we first saw Stumpy in Hervey Bay in 2001 we thought for sure he wouldn't survive without his tail," he said. "It's a 12,500 mile return journey when they migrate and that is an amazing feat for a whale without a tail. He appeared healthy as he played alongside other whales."
Each year, humpback whales pass along Queensland's southern coast as they migrate between Antarctica and warmer tropical waters.
Each year, humpback whales pass along Queensland's southern coast as they migrate between Antarctica and warmer tropical waters.
San Juan Orca Update
SanJuanJournal.com
A calf has been born in "L pod" in the San Juan Islands, possibly bringing the population of the pod to 44 and the overall population of the beleaguered Southern residents to 89. However, the Center for Whale Research warns that at least two other L pod whales may be missing.
The sighting of the calf, on August 12, is welcome news. It is followed by a week of news that the oldest of the Southern residents, K7, was missing and presumed dead. At the same time, the carcass of a killer whale calf believed to have been aborted was found on a Henry Island beach.
A calf has been born in "L pod" in the San Juan Islands, possibly bringing the population of the pod to 44 and the overall population of the beleaguered Southern residents to 89. However, the Center for Whale Research warns that at least two other L pod whales may be missing.
The sighting of the calf, on August 12, is welcome news. It is followed by a week of news that the oldest of the Southern residents, K7, was missing and presumed dead. At the same time, the carcass of a killer whale calf believed to have been aborted was found on a Henry Island beach.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mysterious Blast May Have Killed Whales
The Edmonton Leader-Post reports that the Canadian military is sending a long-range Aurora aircraft to investigate reports of a mysterious explosion along Canada's Northwest Passage that may have killed several whales.
The drama apparently began in the early-morning hours of July 31, when an Inuit hunting party at an outpost camp at Borden Peninsula on northeastern Baffin Island was alerted to the sound of an explosion, followed by a cloud of black smoke.
The drama apparently began in the early-morning hours of July 31, when an Inuit hunting party at an outpost camp at Borden Peninsula on northeastern Baffin Island was alerted to the sound of an explosion, followed by a cloud of black smoke.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Blue Whale Song Grows Deeper
The New York Times reports that the song of the blue whale, one of the eeriest sounds in the ocean, has mysteriously grown deeper.
The calls have been steadily dropping in frequency for seven populations of blue whales around the world over the past 40 years, say researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and WhaleAcoustics, a private research company. The scientists analyzed data collected with hydrophones and other tools and found that the songs, which they believe are by males advertising for mates, had lowered by as much as 30 percent in certain populations. Much of the song lies at frequencies too low to be detected by the human ear.
The calls have been steadily dropping in frequency for seven populations of blue whales around the world over the past 40 years, say researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and WhaleAcoustics, a private research company. The scientists analyzed data collected with hydrophones and other tools and found that the songs, which they believe are by males advertising for mates, had lowered by as much as 30 percent in certain populations. Much of the song lies at frequencies too low to be detected by the human ear.
Humpback Whale on Comeback?
GENEVA (AP) — The humpback whale, nearly hunted into extinction four decades ago, is now on the "road to recovery" and is no longer considered at high risk of extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said Tuesday.
Each year the IUCN produces a Red List of threatened species — also upgraded the status of the southern "right" whale from vulnerable.
The humpback whale population dropped to the "low thousands" when it was finally banned from commercial hunts in 1966. Its numbers have since risen to at least 60,000. The population is growing at a healthy rate of 5 percent each year in the North Pacific.
The Red List includes around 41,000 species and subspecies around the globe. IUCN, which is made up of more than 1,000 government and non-governmental organizations, says it has almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.
Each year the IUCN produces a Red List of threatened species — also upgraded the status of the southern "right" whale from vulnerable.
The humpback whale population dropped to the "low thousands" when it was finally banned from commercial hunts in 1966. Its numbers have since risen to at least 60,000. The population is growing at a healthy rate of 5 percent each year in the North Pacific.
The Red List includes around 41,000 species and subspecies around the globe. IUCN, which is made up of more than 1,000 government and non-governmental organizations, says it has almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.
Navy Sonar Remains Limited
The Natural Resources Defense Council says an agreement approved today by a federal judge in southern California allows the Navy to only slightly expand the scope of its training missions using low frequency sonar. The Navy had sought to expand the sonar's use to up to 70 percent of the world's oceans.
In Hawaii, today's agreement forbids the service from using the low-frequency arrays close to the Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. It also forbids use of the sonar within 50 miles of the main islands.
In Hawaii, today's agreement forbids the service from using the low-frequency arrays close to the Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. It also forbids use of the sonar within 50 miles of the main islands.
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